Intaglio printing machine



Nov. 2, 1 937. F. HELLER 2,097,791

INTAGLIO PRINTING MACHINE Nov. 2, 1937. F. HELLE'R 2,097,791

INTAGLIO PRINTING MACHINE Filed Aug. 3; 1955 2 sheets-sheet 2 P arrasar Franz Heller, Long island City, N.. Y., assigner o s tok.. oe dr Co., Enc., New Yori-h, N. il., a corporation of New Yorh Application August 3, i935, Serial No. 34,518

it lDlaims. (Gl. lill-157) invention relates to rotary intaglio printing machines and more particularly to doctor blade mechanisms for such machines.

In these machines it is necessary to remove the,

excess ink from the surface of the printing cylinder prior to the printing impression. This is generally accomplished xby. a device known as a doctor blade which. has its edge disposed to abut the surface of the cylinder, and while the cylinder rotates, to remove all surplus ink. from its surface without disturbing the ink in the engraved portions thereof.

Preferably, the doctor blade is given a reciprocating movement axially with respect to the roller, is of comparativelythin metal, highly flexible I and held rigidly, is arranged to bepressed upon the cylinder by the proper amount of tension, and is disposed relatively thereto at the desired angle to insure proper ink removal. Springs and weights have been more or less successfully used heretofore to provide the required pressure, but due to the liability of springs breaking and of varying in tension after use, and to the inconveniences occasioned by the use of weights the use of these devices is somewhat objectionable. `llt is particularly desirable that, due to. the exibility of the blade and to possible differences in ilexibility between different blades, the pressure of the blade be readily and delicately adjustable and 'that provision be made to vary the angular disposition of the blade with respect to the cylinder surface contacted thereby.

One oi' the principal objects of this invention is to provide a doctor blade mechanism of improved form, inexpensive to manufacture and maintain in `operation, and particularly eillcient in the operation of ink removal.

Another object is to providea doctor bladel mechanism lwhich will be positive in its action, sturdy in structure, and which does not'require the use of springs and weights to provide the required pressure.

Still another object is to provide a doctor blade mechanism which is readily and conveniently operable to permit accessibility to the adjacent machine parts and mechanism.

A further object is to provide, in such mechanism, eiliciently operable means to adjust the Other objects include the provision of positive locating and locking means for the blade and the provision of the combination of the above fea- I tures in a doctor blade mechanism whereby one may assist and enhance the operations and advantages of the others.

it is also an object of the invention to provide a doctor blade mechanism of generally improved construction, whereby the device will be simple, durable and inexpensive in construction, as well as convenient, practical, serviceable and efficient in its use.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will'appear as the. description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts, and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed', it being understood that various changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed may be made Within the scope of what is claimed Without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein: y

Figure l is a sectional@ view of a portionk of a printing machine, looking in the direction of arrows I-l of Figure 2, and. showing an end view of a doctor blade mechanism embodying the features oi' this invention;

Figure 2' is a plan vievr of the doctor blade mechanism of Figure l, looking in the direction of arrow 2 in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a slightly enlarged endview of the mechanism and illustrates, by the use of dotted lines, the operation thereof; K

Figure 4 is an end view of the doctor blade holder of this invention and illustrates, by the use of dotted lineskthe adjustable feature of this device;

Figure 5 isy an enlarged section on line 5-5 of Figure 3; and

Figure 6 is an enlar Figure 3.

The mechanism embodying the features of this invention is illustrated as being applied in operable association with a printing cylinder I l. The cylinder ll is illustrated as being mounted for rotation in an ink well l 2, wherein ink adheres to ged section on line 6"-6 of its peripheral surface. Impressions from the cylinder Il are applied toaweb i3 by an impression cylinder I4. Surplus ink, adhering to the surface of the cylinder Il is removed by a doctor blade l5 which is, preferably, made of comparatively thin and ilexible metal.

The blade l5 is herein shown clamped between bars I6 and Il which are suitably secured together and which, as a unit are Supported at each end and if desired at intermediate points, by inverted hook-like members i8, being secured thereto by set screws i9 clamping against a flange 2i, formed on the bar l5, within the hook portion 22 of the member i8. The member i8 may be a part of a blade supporting arm 23 or, as preferred and herein shown, adjustably secured to the arm 23, being adapted to be moved thereon about an arc, having the point of contact of the blade l5 with the cylinder il as the center, by means of a cooperating tongue and groove arrangement and T bolts 2d. A blade supporting arm 23 is provided at each end of blade l5.

The arms 23 are mounted to swing toward and away from the cylinder li and carry with them the blade I5 and its supporting members, the bars l5 and il and the member l, into a position as shownin dotted lines in Figure 3, whereby the cylinder il and its associated parts will be conveniently accessible. The arms 23 are rotatably supported upon a shaft 25 which is disposed parallel to and extends from end to end of the cylinder il, being journaled along its length in bearing brackets 25. The brackets 26 are mounted upon a reciprocable carriage 2l, movable transversely with respect to, and toward and away from, the cylinder H, upon a supporting table 28 by means of a manually operable feed screw 29. The table 28 is preferably mounted for oscillating movement axially with respect to the cylinder i l, upon a frame member or standard 3|. oscillatory movement of the table 28 may be obtained by means of 'any of the well yknown types of mechanism, to cause it to slide on ways 32 provided between the same and the frame member 3l.

Swinging movement of the blade supporting arms 23 is obtained by their connection with the shaft 25 by means of a rocker arm 33, which is secured to the shaft and rocks therewith, and an adjustable connection between the arms. This adjustable connection herein comprises, a stud 3B and 35 extending from the arms 23 and 33 respectively, which are disposed one above the other therebetween, and an adjusting screw 35 rotatively secured to the stud 35 and threadingly engaging the stud 36. Before the proper and desired pressure and contact has been obtained between the blade i5 and the cylinder il, the arms 23 and 33 are locked in the blade operative position, as shown in Figures 1 and 3, by means of rotatably mounted disc cams 3l, each of which is disposed with its camming face 38 in operable abutment with the face of a lug 39 provided on each of the arms 33.

Desired pressure adjustment of the blade i5, upon the surface of the cylinder il, may-be deli- Y cately controlled by the screws 35. By providing one of the above disclosed adjusting connections at each end of blade l5, perfect contact of its edge upon the cylinder I lV along its entire length may be obtained by proper adjustment of the screws Should occasion require the removal of the blade l5 away from the cylinder M to permit accessibility to the same or to the adjacent machine parts, the cams 31 are manipulated to relea'se the arms 33 and permit the blade I5 to be swung away from the cylinder Il as shown by dotted lines in Figure 3. This is accomplished by mounting each of the cams 3l on one end of a aow/,voi u shaft di, which is rotatably and axially slidably journaled in a portion i2 of the brackets 26. In this instance the shaft di is axially slidable in the brackets 26 by means of a sleeve cam d3 which is secured to the bracket 26, and is provided with an end cam surface lid adapted to be engaged by a pin i5 protruding radially from the shaft 25.

Rotation of the shaft il in one direction, by means of a hand crank d6 will permit the shaft il to slide axially under urge of a spring lll, one end of which abuts the portion d2 of the bracket 2S and the other end against a sleeve d8 secured to the shaft di, to a position as shown in dotted lines in Figure 2. Obviously, rotation in the other direction will force the shaft di to move axially into position to dispose the cam 3l in engagement with the lug 39 whereby the blade i5 is locked o `ting swinging movement of the blade away from the cylinder without disturbing such adjustment.

From the above description, it will be obvious that the combined features of this invention provides an improved doctor blade mechanism which is particularly efficient in removing excess ink from the surface of printing cylinders of a printing machine. 'I'he provision of an angular adjusting means for the blade l5, in respect tothe cylinder il, permits its proper setting for different diameters of cylinders and to compensate for differences in the flexibility of different doctor blades. The provision of the blade pressure mechanism including the screws 35 permits delicate adjustment of blade contact pressure on the cylinder il over its entire length and the provision of the locating, locking and release mechanism, including the cam 3l and its operating mechanism, 'permits convenient accessibility to the cylinder and other machine parts adjacent thereto without disturbing this delicate adjustment of the blade pressure.

It will be understood that the invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departlng from the spirit or essential attributes thereof,Y

and it is therefore desired that the present embodiment be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, reference being had to the claims rather than to the foregoing dscription to indicate the scope of the invention.

What I claim is:

-1. In combination with a cylinder of a printing machine, a doctor blade mechanism, comprising a flexible doctor blade, a holder for said blade, means to support said blade holder for swinging movement toward and away from said cylinder including, a member connected to the blade holder and an arm pivoted to a stationary part, said member and said arm having cooperating relatively slidable portions, arcuate in form, to adjust said blade angularly with respect to said cylinder, and means to releasably lock said arm to the stationary part.

2. Apparatus for removing surplus ink from a cylinder of a printing machine, comprising a I lock it in position to hold ,carrer said cylinder to adjust the pressure of the contact of said blade thereon, and releasable means rotatable to engage said supporting means to said blade in cylinder contacting position.

3. In a doctor blade mechanism," a exible blade, a blade holder, a swingably mounted arm for supporting said blade holder to dispose of said blade in contact with the surface of a cylinder of a printing machine, and cooperating means including an arcuately formed tongue and groove between said arm and said blade holder slidably adjustable arcuately on said arm to vary the angle of contact of said blade upon the surface of the cylinder. d a

fi. In a doctor blade mecsin, a horrible blade, a swingably mounted member for supporting said blade in contact with the surface oi a cylinder of a printing machine, cooperating means including an arcuately formed tongue and groove between said member and said blade, adjustable to vary the angle of contact of said blade upon the surface' oi the cylinder, a rotatable arm to swing said member, and adjustable means connecting said arm to said member and operable to vary the contact pressure oi said blade on the surface of said cylinder.

5. In a doctor blade mecsm, a flexible blade, a swlngably mounted member tor supporting said blade in contact with the surface oi ya cylinder of a printing machine, and rotatable means to engage said member to locate and loci: said member in blade contacting position, said means being axially movable out of engageent with said member to permit swinging movement thereof' to remove said blade out of contact with the cylinderu 6. in a doctor blade mechanism, a dexible blade, a swingably mounted member for supporting said blade in contact with the surface oi a cylinder of a printing machine, cooperating means between said memberand said blc adjustable to vary the angle ci contact of said blade upon the surface 'of the cylinder, and rotatable meansto engage said member, to locate and loclr the same in blade contacting position, saidV means being axially slidable, when rotated., to disengage from said member to pet swing-iA ing movement thereof to remove said blade out of contact with the cylinder.

7. ln a doctor blade mechanism, a herzible blade, a swingably mounted member tor supporting said blade in contact with the surface oi a cylinder of a printing machine, rochable means tb swing said memben adjustable means connecting said roclrable means to said member and operable to vary the contact pressure of said blade on the surface of the said cylinder. and rotatable means to engage said rochable means to locate and lock said member in blade contacting position, said rotatable ineam being axially slidable, when rotated to disengage from said rochable means to permit swinging movement of said member to remove said blade out oi contact with the cylinder. l,

8. lin a doctor blade mechanism, a als blade, a swingably mounted member for sup, porting said blade in contact with the surface of a cylinder of a printing machina/cooperating means between said member and said blade adjustable to vary the angle oi contact oi said blade upon the surface of the cylinder, a rockable arm t swing said member, adjustable means connecting sald arm to said member and operable to vary the contact premura. oi said blade on the surface oi'said cylindenand rotatable means to Y engage said member to loca e and lock said member in blade contacting sition, said rotatable means being axially slidable out of engagement with said member to permit swinging movement thereof to remove said blade out of contact with the cylinder.

9. In a doctor blade mechanism, a exible blade, an arm for supporting said blade, a rockable shaft upon which saidgarm is swingably mounted, another arm secured to said shaft and rockable therewith, and connecting means between said arms, said connecting means being djrustable to moye one arm rotatably about said shaft relatively to the other arm to adjust the contact pressure of said blade against the surface of a printing cylinder.

10. In a doctor blade mechanism, a exible blade, a blade holder, an arm for supporting said blade holder, and connecting means between said arm and said blade holder, said connecting `mcahs including an arcuately formed tongue connected to said holder, andan arcuately formed groove in said arm to receive said tongue, said tongue being slidably mounted in the groove in said arm' to cause relative movement between said blade and said arm and thereby vary the angie of contact of said blade upon the surface of a printing cylinder.

11. In a doctor blade mechanism, a horrible blade, a first arm for supporting said blade, a rockable shaft upon which said arm is swingably mounted, a second arm secured to said shaft and /rockable therewith, connecting means between` said arms, said connecting means being adjustable to move one arm rotatably about said shaft relatively to the other arm to adjust contact pressure of said blade against the surface of a printing cylinder, and releasable means engaging said secondi arm to positively locate and loch said arms to dispose said blade in cylinder contacting position.

l2. ln apparatus'for removing ink from a cylinder, a doctor blade having a iront edge in contact with said cylinder, a holder ior said blade, a supporting member for said holder, and means to adjustably connect said holder to saidl support including a member connected to said blade holder, and an arcuately formed tongue on one member and an arcuately formed groove in the other member', said tongue and groove being relatively slidable in an arcuate path the center oi' the arc thereoi.7 being substantially upon the periphery of the cylinder.

i3. in apparatus for removing inlr from a cylinder, a doctor blade having a'ront edge in contact with said cylinder, a holder for said blade. a carrier for said holder, a swingable arm, and means to adjustably connect said carrier to said arm including relatively slldable cooperating arcuate tongue and arcuate groove between said arm and said carrier, the center of the arc thereof being substantially at vthe point o1? contact of said blade with salidcyllnder.

ld. In a printing machine having a cylinder,"

tid

ing machine, a doctor blade holder, a swingably mounted arm for supporting said holder, and a rockable member mounted for axial movement when rocked and adapted to be axially moved to be operatively connected to said arm when rocked in one direction, and to\ release such connection when rocked in another direction.

16. In a doctor blade mechanism for a printing machine, a doctor blade, a holder for said doctor blade, a swingable arm for slidably supporting said holder, cooperating means between said holder-and said arm to guide said holder in its sliding movement on said arm in an arcuate path, and a rockable member mounted for axial sliding movement when rocked and adapted to be axially moved to be operatively connected to said arm when rocked in one direction, and released from such connection when rocked in another direction.

l 17. In a doctor blade mechanism for a printing machine, a swingable doctor blade holder, a rockable member, said rockable member being adapted to axially slide when rocked, to be disposed in Vthe path of a part of said holder to, swing the same when in one of its axially disposed positions, and to be removed from the path of the part of said holder to allow it to be freely swung when in another of its axially disposed positions. 18. In a doctor blade mechanism for a printing machine, a cylinder, a doctor blade holder mounted for movement toward and away from said cylinder, a rockable member adapted to axially slide when rocked to be disposed in the path of a part of said holder to move it toward said cylinder when the member is in one of its axially disposed positions, and to be removed from the path of the part of said holder to allow it to be moved away from the cylinder when the member is in another of its axially disposed positions.

FRANZ R. 

